Sunday, August 13, 2017

hot ‘n’ throbbing—Twilight Theater Company—N. Portland

“…Lives of Quiet Desperation”

This very explicit drama about abuse and obsession is
written by Paula Vogel and directed by Matt Gibson. It is playing at their space, 7515 N. Brandon
Ave. (just off Lombard…parking across the street in a church parking lot),
through August 20th. For more
information, go to their site at www.twilighttheatercompany.org

According to Thoreau, the above title is what most people
lead. Which begs the question, why is
this possible. The easy answer is that
we are conditioned, from birth onward, through heredity and nurturing, to
eventually becoming the people we are.
In reality, the idea of Free Will may be only a vague memory. Some of us are, in actuality, closer in kin
to the lower order of animals and puppets than we are to an intellectual being
that has the ability to make choices/changes in our lives. The question then becomes, how do we break
out of an oppressive/abusive cycle to being a compassionate, reasoning
being. That, folks, is the ultimate
query and one in which “easy answers” are not
forthcoming.

Control and Power over people and objects (or do people then
become objects?) seems to be a quest by some—Master and Slave. In this story, Charlene (Jaime Langton) is a
writer of “erotic literature for women” in a noir style, or a type of pulp
fiction. She is even part of a film company
that explores these issues. Beware of
saying she does porn or you’ll have a fight on your hands. She even has a couple of “Muses” in the Voice
Over (Adriana Gantzer), an alter-ego, a combination of adult, exotic dancer and
sometimes Lisa, best friend to her daughter.
Then there is The Voice (Benjamin Philip), Director of her scenes in
life, as well as a Noir-type of detective.
They will attempt to guide her.

She also has two children, teens, in various states of
development. Calvin (Chloe Duckart) is
sexually repressed, a voyeur, seemingly unable to be part of the social crowd
of his age and trying to be the “man of the house.” Leslie Anne (Tabitha Ebert) desperately wants
to take “a walk on the wild side,” but is unable to do that except in her
imagination. Both kids are at odds with
their Mom, who they live with, and their estranged Dad, Clyde (Jason A.
England), who is an abusive, alcoholic, unemployed ex-husband/father who pops
in now and again, probably just to exert power over his charges.

And one, explosive night, everything comes to a head and it
doesn’t really end well for anyone.
Obviously, I’m not going to tell you the outcome but know that this
would be R-rated and the scenes of violence, although stylized, and language,
are explicit! Definitely not for Youth,
although in today’s atmosphere, some mature young people might be able to glean
from this story and, perhaps, see behavior in their friends/family that might
mirror, in some ways, the situations portrayed here. But this play is certainly not for the
squeamish or those easily offended.

The actors are all first-rate and I applaud their courage
for exposing such a difficult subject.
As “entertainment” I would not recommend this play. But as a learning experience or as educational
material, it is a must. Vogel is a
brutally honest playwright and I don’t doubt that she has had experience
first-hand, in life, of the behaviors she writes about and so I applaud, too,
her bravery.

Gibson is a classy director and I admire his choices. The power in any scene is not what you
see/hear, but what you imagine you see
and hear. For example, the original film
of “Halloween” was criticized for being too bloody (even banned in Portland
when it was released for TV) and yet there is virtually no blood evident in it
(just some great music, writing, photography, acting and directing, all by
Carpenter). He did not create a reality,
only the illusion of a reality. And, so to, has Gibson, and done it very
well!

If you choose to see this production, please tell them
Dennis sent you.

Who is Dennis Sparks?

It is only fair, I believe, to give you a little
background on myself, if you are going to be reading my reviews and will be
considering me a source to see plays.

To
begin with, most reviewers in the media have little or no practical experience
in the actual arts themselves.They may
have dabbled a bit in a play or film, at some point, but their main source for
reviewing, is experience in journalism, literature and other exposures to the
written word.This is not true in my
case.

Yes, I have had some experience in journalism, but my major focus for the past 40 years has been the performing arts. Most of it in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the Western New York area. I have worked backstage as a “techie” and onstage as an actor. I have been an Artistic Director of three companies and have been a Producer and founder of two. I have directed many shows and written a few stage plays, as well, some of which have been performed. I have taught drama to adults and Youth and have even written screenplays. And, yes, have written reviews for theatre and film for four weekly newspapers over the years, most recently, for the Vancouver Voice.

I share this information with you, not to be bragging, but for you to know that I am well-versed in all aspects of the performing arts. Thus, my opinions are based on a solid background in the field. I am a firm supporter of the Arts and the importance of it in our Society. But I am also an observer, an audience member, as well, of many shows. And, as such, am critical when I can sense that a performance or production is not at the top of their game. Therefore, I feel obligated to point out these “rooms for improvement” but I hope, in a constructive way.

Also, I do not want to discourage a viewer from seeing a show because I didn’t feel it was “up to snuff.” On the contrary, I want you to see it and form your own opinion. I just hope that I have given you some things to look at that are good and, perhaps, not so good. I encourage everyone to see plays. I promise you, at the very least, you will become a more well-rounded and aware person because of it. Through the eyes of artists, you will experience a world of possibilities. And, in possibilities, there is Hope. And couldn’t we all have just a little more of that in our World?!